hello, for the last few years, i've been a little obsessed with chasing the big idaho potato truck. but it's not like that's my only interest. i also love cooking with heart-healthy, idaho potatoes. always look for the grown in idaho seal. ♪♪ griff: texas begins building its own wall to try and help stem the record flow of migrants pouring over our southern border. you are looking live at the first panels already in place. governor greg abbott about to hold a press conference just moments from now on the project. you can actually hear them working behind us. welcome to "fox news live," i'm give griff jenkins live on the texas

border. gillian: i'm gillian turner in washington. let's take a look at we've got new live drone pictures over and above that brand new texas wall that governor abbott is having constructed there. about a mile from griff, where he is right now. griff, you're in the heart really of operation lone star. that is the governor's statewide project there that is really meant to deter illegal immigration, crack down on undocumented migrants coming across the u.s./mexico border: it's about your 17,000th trip to the border, i think? correct me if i have a couple of numbers off there. [laughter] i want to hear from you really -- set the stage for us. what is different about this trip, what are you seeing and hearing on the ground, what is jumping out at you? griff: oh, gillian, we're hearing an awful lot. you mentioned to operation lone

star. that began in march. i did my first trip this year in march when not a single network or a single reporter was reporting on what was the most unprecedented crisis we've ever seen on our southern border in the history of the country. and the border patrol agents i've worked with for more than ten years said you've got to come down here and see it. we came and saw it, we showed it to the american people. operation lone star has been working ever since because governor abbott realized that the new administration, the biden administration that came in on inauguration day and undid essentially every major trump policy that had gotten the border under control, they realized they had a problem. since then we have made multiple trips along with my colleague bill melugin who has become the standard bearer for reporting down here, he's going to join us in just a bit. but what is significant about today is for the first time a state, texas, is taking on the responsibility of border security. that is a federal responsibility. governor abbott believes that the biden administration has

absolutely abdicated that responsibility, so they are taking things into their hands. all week long i've been down here shooting a special for fox nation as well as reporting with the texas dps, we'll bring that to you later. i've been in the bush where the migrants are, in the air, on a boat on the river. but the wall itself, it's nebraska been done before. -- never been done before. governor abbott's going to unveil that just moments from now. gillian, i want to bring in land commissioner george p. bush. george, thank you for being here. you are the land commissioner, but what has gone into making this wall happen? you've been really the point man on it. how hard has this been and tell me about the significance of what's happeninged to. >> well, thank you for covering this important moment and the history of the land office. as it turns out with this record surge of illegal immigration, this area that we sit on right now, 3100 acres, is owned by the

taxpayers of texas. and the tenants that we lease out to generates revenue to public schools in our state. regretfully, it's been destroyed by illegal migrants. my staff in partnership with the governor's office have begun the feasibility of constructing a texas wall knowing that this president would not construct another foot of wall. and he's right, we're not going to construct another foot of wall, we're going to construct miles and miles of texas wall. and we're going to do so until communities are safe and secure and until we get peace for tenants like ours whose business has been destroyed. griff: so many questions. about the actual construction, they're building about a football field a day. it's the same company that was building the trump federal wall carrying this out. they're going to build about 1.7 miles, and as you point out, the border patrol guy well before dawn told me they've had 250

illegally crossing migrants come right up behind us. it's interesting that texas wanted to buy this unused panels of wall that are sitting, tens of millions rotting, and the feds wouldn't give it to you. seems like a waste to me. >> it's a waste to taxpayers, the break-up fees, the contractors. that's why i brought suit against the biden administration, bush v. biden, to compel the federal government to spend money on the trump wall which was largely unspent. and biden has diverted a lot of those dollars to unnecessary expenses when it could be used to help stem the tide. border patrol officials, national guardsmen, department of public safety, any law enforcement on the border looking at protecting our sovereignty as a country say we need more wall to help them triage the risk. griff: you put your finger on something i want to address, and that is i have learned down here on the ground, i've been doing this for ten years, as i

mentioned, by and large, land owners want their peace and quiet. they don't want to see a wall. but it's changed. now i have rancher after rancher saying we want a wall, and it looks like they want to partner with you. >> reporter: -- >> the governor has asked can law enforcement to prosecute under criminal trespassing charges, so we're seeing affidavits that want to be part of this process under state law and also under wall construction program to sign up to be a part of this. finish and, you know, for a lot of ranchers and farmers in the area, they describe a kinder, gentler illegal immigration, but we've seen a record spike in violent crimes in border communities in addition to a large flow of illegal narcotics. it was just reported that more 18 to 45-year-olds have died due to opioid overdoses, more so than due to covid. this is a national issue we need to get tougher on as it relates to the coyotes and the cartels

that are leveraging our border for their profit. griff: they sure are. i interviewed a cartel smuggler, the first time he's gone on camera. we'll play it a little later. i want to talk about we hear the crane, the machinery behind us. they're building it fast. a lot of people don't know this, you're actually iting through red tape -- cutting through red tape. you may build this wall faster than president trump was building his. >> we're really excited about the metrics. we're going to hold ourselves accountable. the legislature invested north of $3 billion to deliver this effort. texans are a can-do people, and i think what you're going to see today is a reflection of the ingenuity of different agencies coming together to think like the private sector and like business owners to get this done to secure our communities, stem the tide and do what we can because the federal government is not going to answer this call. griff: commissioner george p. bush, we look forward to seeing you here with governor abbott as

well. he's going to be with the governor when they unveil it officially, really a historical day for texas. thank you for being here very much. now, all the way up to $20,000, this is what my grants willing to -- migrants willing to pay to smugglers and cartels to get to the united states with. as i mentioned, we went into mexico on wednesday, we talked to a mugler who rarely ever talks -- smuggler who rarely ever talks to media, and he walked us through the journey. [speaking spanish] >> translator: just from mccollum to here is $1, $1,,000-$2,000. you want to go to houston, it's another cost, and it depends on if you can walk or take a trailer for a vehicle. trailer is between $5-7,000 for a person. >> griff: is the trailer better chances they will make it successfully across?

[speaking spanish] >> translator: trailer is much better and more secure because it's a long way to walk. takes around 8 hours of walk or 3 days. finish. griff: in terms of the business overall, smuggling business, how profitable is that business? [speaking spanish] >> translator: we make a lot of money. i don't understand how people sell their houses and everything to get to the american dream. i do it mostly to help people but, yes, we earn a lot of money. griff: are you worried about your safety because of cartels being involved, in control of people crossing? [speaking spanish] >> translator: the cartels ask us for money, and they give us a code and they take care of us. and that's how we take care of people here. actually, we work the cartels and nothing happens to people. griff: how exactly are the cartels making it safer to cross the border?

[speaking spanish] >> translator: the cartels are like a guyed that goes on -- guide and keeps an eye that the police isn't around. and in case there is dangers, we return and don't let anything happen to the people. they take care of them. griff: there is a perception that moving humans now across the border is more profiting bl than even moving drugs for cartels. [speaking spanish] >> translator: yes. people give more money right now because the border is very controlled with the drugs. i don't know much about it because i just smuggle people, but i know that it's very controlled. i know that some people have spent between $15-20,000 in getting to the united states. griff: with business this good, will this ever stop? [speaking spanish] >> translator: no, it's not going to stop. if people need money, they're going to do anything to get the money. so, no, it's not going to stop.

griff: you guys on this side of the border, are you smarter and better at this than the american border patrol and their side? [speaking spanish] >> translator: well, it's a fight because we're younger and we want more, and border patrol are with their dogs and their cars, but they do well. sometimes they see immigrants with cameras and let them walk. the border patrol appears. griff: i want to cross tonight, and i can pay whatever you want to pay. what would be the way that you would send me to -- across the river or to the trailer? how would you send me? [speaking spanish] >> translator: i would send you in a trailer. in 8 hours you'll arrive in houston, but you have to go from the river. you have to walk, once you cross, you walk and they pick you up. from there they can take you another markets let's say walmart, and from walmart they take you to a house.

in the house you wait for your turn, trailer again and into the united states. griff: gillian, it's really a remarkable interview because we've been working for more than the better part of a year with missouri rah patterson, my -- missouri rah patterson. she is such an amazing individual. she met with individuals in mexico city to make this happen, in tapachula where we were this past year, but finally he went on camera, and the only reason we can figure out why is because the cartels are so brains, so bold, so -- brazen, so aware of how much control they have, they were willing to tell us about it. gillian: griff, incredible coverage there. yesterday, today we're really just along for the ride with you as you kind of walk with us hand in hand across the border region showing us everything from exclusive interviews like drug smugglers, human traffickers to

getting the fox news drone up there to show us what this new wall looks like in realtime as it's being built. want to recap the crisis real quick here. so border patrol agents have have stopped more than 127,000 people along the southern border in just november alone. that is an increase of 10% from october. it's also a whopping 140% increase over november last year. this is according to customs and border protection's own stats. now, the agency is also reporting two-thirds of those 127,000 apprehensions were of single adults, but encounters with unaccompanied children is also skyrocketing. it is up 9% month on month. griff, you're really seeing some of these apprehensions going down in person, in realtime. what can you tell us about the human element here? griff: well, it's simply the

numbers tell the story. and in the last 24 hours, just in the rgv sector, there have been more than 1500 apprehensions. but the number that matters isn't the apprehensions. these are individuals that want to surrender. it's the ones that don't want to be caught and the gotaways in this sector alone, in just the first two months, more than 11,000 known gotaways. but take a look at the video. we went out with this texas dps elite brush unit going after the runners. they are from all over world, from central america to africa, to haiti, to cuba, they are wearing camo gear, tactical boots, they do not want to be caught, and they run very aggressively. it is because of the drones that texas dps uses along with the helicopter, but we went out to experience it with them. it is hard work, it is difficult work, and you are in the middle of the neat going from mid might to six a.m. running through thorns, cactuses, there's

snakes, there's bugs. it is a difficult job, and the texas dps has been doing it every single day, every single night in overwhelming numbers, indefatigable since the beginning of the year 2021, pretty much from march until today. gillian? gillian: well, you know, governor abbott, griff, has been one of president biden's biggest critics when it comes to open borders, when it comes to immigration. but he is really zeroing in on a particular case here. he says that what he's doing, this whole lone star operation, the $1.8 billion he is pouring into border security is a humanitarian effort. abbott is doubling down now, making the case that he's doing this in order to protect not just americans, but to protect the well-being of mexicans and other would-be migrants who want to come here to the united states. he says all of this is not really about politics, he's actually trying to save lives.

griff: well, that's right, gillian. and he's also hearing from texas. as we heard from george p. bush, texans that are fed up. we've reached a breaking point with the citizens who have lived along the border that want governor abbott to take action. i've been covering it, and you're kind to mention it, gillian, but i want to bring in bill melugin, our reporter down here in the region. bill, you are the standard bearer -- [laughter] i thought i did good work, your work has been amazing. i think you own property down here -- >> reporter: might as well. [laughter] griff: you've been down here, you've seen it as much as anybody in the country. what are your thoughts as we're having this day, they're building the wall gillian was just talking about how the governor's really responding to the texans. >> reporter: well,ing i think about back to the first time i came out here which i think was in may, and that was back when the administration was saying

this was just a seasonal thing, right? it happens every year, once it goes into the summer, it'll slow down. then we had those record numbers, more than 200,000 in a downing of months. now here we are in the middle of december, and nothing has slowed down. we just had the highest november in history. and a couple of the craziest moments we've had i'd like to show you guys, just rewind the clock. this was back in september. this was when we were live in a helicopter in del rio when all of those haitians showed up and started, basically, camping out underneath the bridge. the port of entry in del rio. and keep in mind there were about 15,000 haitians at the high climax. we had our drone there, the faa ended up grounding it, so texas dps took us up in their helicopter, and it was probably the most wild, bizarre thing i've seen in my career. we were just watching thousands of people walking across the rio grande, just walking into the united states, no border patrol

agents anywhere and just camping out underneath that bridge. and another clip is if we can pull up this video, this is from la jolla over the summer, look at this video. this was a huge group of runners, mostly dressed in grabbing, who just came right across the border right in on of us, border patrol, our cameras. these are the guys who are not turning themselves in, very clearly wanting to get away. and about 20 of those guys did end up getting away because border agents were busy processing units. the cartels like to send the family units across. it sucks up border patrol resources, then the runners come across elsewhere. griff: for somebody who's been covering this for years and years, that live shot you dud in the helicopter over del rio was not just stunning for fox viewers, you woke up the entire

nation. this was something that's never happened. you were able to get over them, show the magnitude of just how open our border is, how helpless our border patrol agents were, and it wasn't until texas dps really lined up that convoy of cars to try and stop it. you were there, and it not only made the country aware, but every other network. our colleagues in the media responded and quickly put people down because they saw what you did, which was to open the eyes to the crisis that we're hearing from texans. >> and remember, when all that happened, all those people showed up under the bridge, you reported this as well, basically every border patrol area in the sector got called in there, and that left, what, almost 200 miles of border completely exposed. it was a free-for-all. the cartels could move whatever they wanted, whether people or drugs, every border agent got called down there because those

optics were not good. they wanted to get them out as fast as possible, and we had dhs secretary mayorkas show up saying do not come, it's not worth the journey. he then later admitted after delery owe was over about, what was it, 10,000 of those haitians were released into the country with ntas, notice to appears and notice to reports. griff give bill melugin, great coverage. and i don't have that great hair. [laughter] i've got something to learn from you, buddy. mean while, texas lawmakers from both sides of the aisle will be joining us for their reaction to the new wall. that's next. ♪ ♪ i brought in ensure max protein, with thirty grams of protein. those who tried me felt more energy in just two weeks! (sighs wearily) here i'll take that! (excited yell) woo-hoo! ensure max protein. with thirty grams of protein, one gram of sugar, and nutrients to support immune health.

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millions. mark meredith joins us from 1600 pennsylvania avenue. mark, what's going on? >> reporter: well, gillian, we are in wilmington, delaware, this weekend because the president's here. but as you've been talking about, a lot of the focus is what's going on with the pandemic. nearly a year into his presidency, this is still a major issue for the biden administration. on thursday the president even issued his most dire warning yet to americans who have yet to get vaccinated. >> for unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death among unvaccinated for themselves, they are family9 and the hospital they'll soon overwhelm. but the good news, if you're vaccinated and have your booster shot, you're protected from severe illness and death. period. >> reporter: the white house says the government is going to be sending surge teams to a handle of states where they're really dealing with this crisis. that includes colorado, michigan, new york. we have seen cases in these places skyrocket in recent days.

as for the president, on friday he was in south carolina to deliver the fall commencement address at south carolina state university. he wore a mask for the majority of his visit, but the white house says so far it is not changing its travel plans including the holiday plans given what's been going on with covid. but they caution they continue to rely on health experts to decide their best guidance. we have seen some european countries start to tighten travel restriction. we're also watching overnight in ohio where a federal appeals court reinstated the administration's vaccine mandate that would be impacting larger american employers. in a ruling handed down last night, judge julia givens who was appointed by president george w. bush writes: reasonable minds may disagree, but we do not substitute our judgment to those of osha. we heard from the white house today that says it welcomes this ruling, but republicans are ready to challenge this all the way to the u.s. supreme court.

gillian. gillian: mark meredith reporting from wilmington, delaware, definitely not from the white house. there was a slight they there, i couldn't see you. thanks so much, mark. >> reporter: no worries. no problem. griff: gillian, back here in rio grande city, texas, we're getting closer to when governor greg abbott is expected to unveil the new state-funded border wall. now, for more on the surge of migrants and this wall, one of the people attending it, congressman louie gohmert. congressman, i want to get to the wall. such an historical day for texas. but quickly, our white house reporter mark meredith was just getting reaction from president biden to the sixth circuit court of appeals reinstating the vaccine mandate. president biden saying we could be headed for a winter of severe illness. you're a lawyer and a previous judge. what's your reaction to sixth circuit's decision? >> i think the sixth circuit is totally wrong.

just as some justices have said from other courts, just because there's an emergency doesn't mean that americans have to give up their constitutional rights. and especially since everything that fauci has talked about has not been effective. it's not working. you may have seen the latest data out of the united kingdom. so in england, the united kingdom, 81% of the deaths have been among the vaccinated. and when i was hosting sean hannity's radio show yesterday, i had dr. ralph malone are on, the guy that discovered, that created the mrna, that technology that's used in the vaccinations. he is extremely concerned. he said there hasn't been adequate testing. and this changes people's genetics. and it does do irreparable damage in many cases they know of, creating lesions in the brain, creating damage to the

organs and especially the reproductive system. so to be adding on and saying let's give this to children 5 years and up, are you kidding? we don't know enough about that. so the courts are, they're sticking their finger up in the wind instead of looking at the constitution. we need to have more studies, and fauci needs to be held responsible for the deaths that are being created by the things that he's forcing on america. griff: more on that when you get back to washington. meanwhile, we're in south texas, rio grande city, and behind us the above about to unveil this wall. first -- the governor about to unveil the wall. first time in history that a state has taken on the responsibility of border security. your thoughts. >> well, article iv of the constitution says that the

federal government guarantees a republican form of government, representative form of government, to each state and is going to keep them free from invasion. and, griff, i don't know what the exact number would be where it constitutes an invasion, but i can guarantee you it's less than 2 million in a year. and so with people pouring across the land into the state government land, we've got to do something. and i know the arizona supreme court case said state and local law enforcement are not to enforce immigration, but they anticipated surely that the federal government would do their job, keep their guarantee -- griff: you put your finger on something there, and that is the state enforcement. because here in texas they've gone from the catch and release policy of the biden administration to the catch and jail policy of governor abbott. he has stated if these migrants cross onto private property,

they're charging them with trespassing. the ranches i was at all week in kinney county, they take those single males -- if there's women or children, they turn them over in a humanitarian reason to the border patrol, but if they're single adult males, they're turning them over, and they're put in jail in value verde county -- valverde county. so my question, do you believe the enforcement will help drive this crisis and drive these numbers down? >> i absolutely do. unfortunately, what it might do for a while is drive people, the drug cartels, to bring people across the border in other states, and then the other states will need to do that. but under state law you have to have it posted no trespassing, and you've got to have some kind of fence, and that's what's being done. and we've got a lot of work to do on the fence. but, griff, how outrageous.

the federal government paid for the materials to -- griff: that's true. and the feds -- >> yeah -- [inaudible conversations] griff: congressman, thank you very much. we're going to run out of time. thanks for being here. coming up, democratic congressman henry cuellar will join gillian. that's next. ♪ ♪

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gillian: we are now waiting a press conference with the texas governor greg abbott, on the border wall, after the break we heard from the republicans on this issue now we will bring in a democratic congressman henry cuellar, joining us pretty as her this day is here in this wall is getting built pretty and regardless who is on board with it or not, the texas land commissioner a few months ago,

george and he has raised something like $54 million already but and what do you think. abbott: a lot of the problems we have right now, if you really look at the new miles that took president trump tried to build him about 50 miles in four years of new miles, that is if is that we have, and i think with the state of texas is doing is trying to show up that they are doing something but if you look at it even with the visual right, how far are they away so if you are stopping people coming in and asking for them the moment they touched the riverbank in the walk half a mile to the fence, it is not going to stop them and what we need to do is when we catch of people, we deport the people that are not supposed to be here we get mexico and then to stop more people from coming here. and it is more of the visual but

ask exactly. cuellar: ask for the fence will be in it will be away from the riverbanks and it does not help the people that are coming in. gillian: in your state and even nationwide come americans are really fighting over whether the border balls art the solution we can fight back and forth about that but if you look at the broader plan here, right the governor abbott, close to $2 billion at the border crisis, the law enforcement told "fox news" just this weekend, that the program is working. legal immigration and the solution it is the problem of the illegal immigration it, no two ways about us and they tell us that this is starting to get implemented over the last time and you have seen it decrease in drug trafficking and also in human trafficking. cuellar: again, i want to see

law and order and i think having open borders is wrong and it's a matter of how we get there because keep in mind that the state does not have the immigration powers and how can they go after the criminals, absolutely pretty but i think also the biden administration, we needed to hold people and deport them because that is what the law says, they don't qualify for asylum, they don't qualify so again the governor, and we can talk about this in about a year or two and i want to see how many miles that the state built. president trump only built about 50 miles or so in u.s. miles in four years and so whatever the state will do, it's going to be more of a response and in the election is coming up and understand all of that and i don't want to stop people from coming in and i don't want to see open borders and i support enforcement and i support the border control and 70 doesn't have the right to be here, we

should deport them as soon as possible. gillian: i want you to weigh in on a couple of other things, have you you, build back better is selling out. and unfortunately, to the present looks like he is getting shelled so at least for the first quarter of next year, asking about this on the very powerful appropriations committee and what is the plan to get this across the finish line. cuellar: over a set aside right now and it quite honestly, senator joe manchin and senator kristin sinema and they're still working and what they're trying to do is to make sure that we look at one of the needs that we have, and only the needs we have divided we don't just come up with a number, $3.5 trillion came up and they wanted to fill it up with taxes and certain spinning so they are looking at this very carefully. we support build back better but we want to make sure that it is something that will be helpful to get americans back to work

and provide childcare and provide care for people so they can get back to work, that's what we want to see want to continue to create jobs in the united states. gillian: what about the president running for reelection and they are saying the consensus, the washington consensus anyway that the president is not really planning to run again even the new york times late in the editorial board this week and they said that the president should not run and should clear now that he's not running because by withholding information, he's really sort of sticking it to the party in the term fully back the next candidates. cuellar: i supported present biden when he ran and i will continue to support him. people are already saying the sheep and he should not run and he will make the decision and i would support present biden again for reelection.

gillian: but i want to circle back to you here, if he does not raise not planning on running, izzy hurting his democratic colleagues but not being truthful about that now. cuellar: will appreciate your voice but right now, the present has said if he says he will run for reelection and for reelection i was again for his word and less of the question if he decides not to but again he has the right reelection and i support him for reelection. gillian: a leave there, but entirely hypothetical, if he is still the colleagues he is not running but we will find more about that in the days to come. the american people will and thank you so much for your time. cuellar: merry christmas and happy new year. gillian: so right now were standing by waiting for this news conference by texas governor greg abbott any talking about the wall and it starting

today, ground is being broken and it is happening pretty we are in their life all afternoon long. ♪ i had a dream that someday ♪ ♪ i would just fly, fly away ♪

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gillian: california governor gavin newsom is now getting to clampdown the smash and grab crisis that is running this state and he is planning to build $300 million now, at the problem and we have that story from la. >> when nice to see you in under this plan, their cracking down on organized crime and the rampant retail theft and part of the governor's proposal budget when into this next month, and allocates four and $55 million in grants for local law enforcement to increase the presence at the retail locations and 30 million for the local prosecutors to make sure their

effectively prosecuting the theft but critics say from the reforms like for certain crimes, the counties like los angeles, and san francisco county is to blame for the surge in retail debt and they also say that prop 37 estate valid initiative was downgraded property theft for misdemeanor from the stolen items with a value of $950 or less, also to blame however governor gavin newsom, with the law. >> it is about 47, in the last analysis with your shows the property of the larceny and crimes are down 11 percent, this is nothing to do with all these laws were put on the books as sideshows to what is happening in an organized way. gillian: but in terms of violent crimes, homicide and aggravated assaults are still up statewide and many republican say the states liberal leadership has a

rash approach of the crime yesterday california's senate gop leaders released a statement saying that governor newsom announced additional measures on public safety despite encouraging crime policies that foster a safety net for criminals and the democrats have a push for criminal approach has turned this once majestic state into a sanctuary for criminals and should not have taken increasing homicide rate and widespread news reports a smash and grabs and police in california, for the democrats to come to this realization it. but they're sticking to the plan and focusing the attention on gun violence and also announced yesterday that he is pushing for $25 million in his proposed budget for a new statewide gun buyback program. gillian: live from la, thank you so much. >> president trump will be a guess, tomorrow and here is a sneak peek from her interview.

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xfinity brought us together, after all! power your whole home this holiday with wifi speeds faster than a gig. click, call, or visit a store today. sing 2 so many people are overweight now, and asking themselves, "why can't i lose weight?" for most, the reason is insulin resistance, and they don't even know they have it. conventional starvation diets don't address insulin resistance. that's why they don't work. now there's release from golo. it naturally helps reverse insulin resistance, stops sugar cravings, and releases stubborn fat all while controlling stress and emotional eating. at last, a diet pill that actually works. go to golo.com to get yours. gillian: we are live the southern border and rio grand city in texas and were looking live at governor greg abbott gathering several lawmakers and

now texas has begun construction on his border wall in these images of this will behind me, this is where the construction has been taking place, on state land with the state fund is the first such ventures in u.s. history, gillian, texas has not been sitting around waiting for the biden administration to take matters into their own hands. gillian: yes that is correct and i don't know if anybody is really surprised about that and you mentioned it $54 billion the governor's race and the companies in the state funds and then the private donations, really unprecedented with the effort and thus the 4 million is just a fraction of the $1.8 billion the governor is pouring into the border security try to clampdown on the prices there predict not just throwing money at the problem on they are their own country. reporter: they are in the got a

lot of skin in the game, because as we have heard earlier in the hour from the land commissioner, talking about the farmers losing the crops in the ranchers having destroyed property, that is why they are so willing to work with state and obviously the governor feels that he has his duty to answer their complaints and to get things under control. what is fascinating though is but you won't hear from the border patrol, the agents tell me privately off-camera, they are ecstatic to see this go up trying to get it under control. gillian: i can only imagine, it is one thing is you say, to talk about this and sitting on the east coast for the folks here in washington and money here and there and another thing when the crisis literally in her own backyard. reporter: and coming up, and exclusive interview tomorrow with former president donald trump with the crisis at the

border and tomorrow, here is a quick snippet of that. >> were not just talking about the people, were talking about the drugs coming in the human trafficking mostly, the traffic the women and children much lesser extent that they traffic these women it and they will put six women in the trunk of a car and what they do, these are animals. we had a really largely, it would've been just about stopped and then these people got into office and they destroyed it, they're destroying this country. reporter: you can watch the full interview tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. eastern and it is going to be fascinating. and to hear what else the former president has to say about the border meanwhile we are waiting for gov. greg abbott to make news on thees border walls, when we come back. and a new seat at the table.

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>> today, we are waiting for the governor to bring remarks to breaking ground on the border wall. let's listen. >> we are going to be making an announcement about unprecedented actions taken by his. i want to recognize a few people who gather with us today. we have the summation george, the commissioner of the general land office and we are on property managed by the general land office and he will tell you more about what he has done to help make this process successful, if i can say it. senator hancock is the chairman of the senate border security committee, representative james white, the chairman of the house homeland security committee. we also have with us behind me,

director of the department of public safety. we have the general for in charge of border response for the state of texas. i have with me chairman of the texas facilities commission, steve and i don't know if he's behind me but i want to express gratitude to the executive director for the texas commission. let me tell you what is going on. texas is taking what truly is unprecedented action by any state ever for estate to build a wall on our border to secure safeguard the sovereignty of the united states as well as our own states and this unprecedented

action is needed for one reason, that's because the biden administration failed to do it job as required by the constitution, as required by law passed by congress to enforce the immigration laws of the united states of america. the consequences of biden's failure to do his job are staggering. already this year to have been more than 1.2 million people apprehended across the border illegally, those of the people apprehended and do not count all of those not apprehended. those people are not just coming from mexico, they are coming through mexico from more than 150 countries across the entire globe including people from countries hostile to the united states of america, countries like china, iran, syria.

russia. also devastating coming across our border, people involved in human trafficking, a modern-day slavery where they are trafficking women and young children sometimes trafficking practice on the way to the border after they come through the border. we are seeing something devastating the biden administration is not doing enough to respond to, the enormous amount of functional coming across our borders. 2 milligrams is it that the dose. we've already apprehended enough to kill every man, woman and child in new york, illinois and florida combined. there was a report that came out yesterday saying the number one cause of death in the united states of america were people ages 18 to 45. it's not covid, it's not car

wrecks, instead the number one cause of death is fentanyl. joe biden has facilitated the death of those people by the open border policy he's allowed to take place here in texas and it must be stopped. the people making money are the gangs and cartel including ms 13 gang members apprehended here in texas as well as other gangs and cartel, national guard is working to apprehend everyday. people in the region know about these devastating deaths and strapped tragedies, a 79-year-old woman and 22-year-old daughter near mission where a smuggler t-boned them in a car wreck and killed the. there are deadly consequences because of biden's open border policy.

it's the deadly consequences the state of texas stepping up to address through multiple strategies including unprecedented efforts to build the border wall you see behind me. this border wall you see behind me is a replication of the border wall president trump put up, same material, same concept. if you look at it from here, it doesn't look like the bars are all that big, i have with me a steel -- it's heavy and wide, people aren't making it through the steel bars. just as unprecedented as the actions we are taking is the speed in which we have taken this action. it was just six months ago i signed a letter authorizing the facility commission to begin building the wall.

just after that i signed two pieces of legislation passed by the legislature to provide three billing dollars for texas to step up and secure our border including money allocated to build this order wall. this border wall is not only going to pass but is going to be equipped, to better safeguard because in addition to the wall, once it's completed, it will have multiple detection devices so we can observe what's going on and quickly interdict anything or anybody trying to get through and when they do try to get through, if they are able to, because of the policies we have in place in the state of texas, the people we apprehend will not be turned over to the federal administration just for release, people we apprehend will be charged with trespassing in the state of texas and the

charges will lead them to being sent to jail. what we are doing here in building the border wall is part of a multipronged strategy. we have the national guard and of a safety, about 10000 altogether working day and night to make apprehensions to people coming across the border to push back and turn and send back people coming across the border. they are establishing barriers of all different kinds to deter and prevent people from coming into texas illegally including massive containers you see on 18 wheelers and container ships, they been put down as well as razor wire put down in an attempt to prevent people from coming across the border. they have put up barricades in the water to deter smugglers using rats to bring people

across the border pushing them back to mexico so they will not be successful bringing people into our statement into our country. they are using this strategy to make sure they are not released, instead they are arrested and jailed in texas. importantly, the wall behind me now would not have been possible without the heavy involvement crews. one group is the texas legislature who provided three billing dollars in funding needed for texas to step up and protect the sovereignty of our state and our country. second, the people working tirelessly every single day execute what must be done to build a wall that is this facilities commission. i'm going to introduce the chair

of the texas commission and a second. i do however, want to save us. i know addition to funding the state is providing, i know many americans want to be part of this, many americans are asking what can they do to help texas build a border wall? is a site going to give you where you can go but i want to let you know texas has received well over $54 million from our fellow americans who want to see the wall built. if you want to help, so to border wall thought texas.gop. .gov where you can do your part to help secure the sovereignty and safety of this country by helping texas build more of this waterfall. i will tell you more what this

facility is doing to achieve this goal, i will go to the chairman of the commission, stephen. [applause] >> that was texas governor greg abbott. here in south texas along the southern border. this is a historical day for texas, we heard the governor talk about the sovereignty of the nation but also he says the consequences of president biden's failure to secure the border has been tremendous on texas. >> no surprise there. governor abbott has been one of biden's fiercest critics especially on this issue. he took the opportunity and double down on. thank texas is on the front line, this is our own backyard, the federal government is not

going to step in, we will, we will make up a whole, it's nearly $2 billion, legislation funding he passed about nine months ago but the other side of this is vastly different, we got i think ten civil liberty organizations suing governor greg abbott not just to build the boardwalk but to crack down, they are accusing him of being racist and site policies discriminating against black and brown people so two very different perspectives on the issue you and i are covering today. >> that's right. the government and texas department of public safety officers carrying out operation lone star are fully aware of the lawsuits filed against him but it isn't stopping him from carrying out the travelers to

get it under control and they are engaging in enforcement the governor believes is missing. i want to bring in now lieutenant christopher, we spent all week long, we've seen from the air and from the water the helicopters and boats, we've gone into the brush but i want your reaction, carrying out the governor's order and operation lone star, what are your thoughts? >> great to be with you and this is a historic moment in history right now, texas building is owned texas border wall because of the current border crisis and the fact the federal government is safeguarding the nation so right now in texas stepping in, which we have been doing from the beginning of this year, your seen the great work men and

women are doing on the front lines but it goes back to action, taking the initiative, is providing these resources, we know how vital the texas wall is, the barrier needed, is a valuable resource it is taking place, a very historic moment. >> how did men and women and border patrol agents you've worked with and the national guard, how do they feel off-camera about the state building the wall? >> on the stateside, the personnel, men and women are being provided with so much resources and support texas state leadership in providing the manpower and equipment needed to secure the border, right now the morale tweet our men and women in the national guard working together in a collaborative effort to secure the border but most important,

the entire country is at an all-time high and will push forward and the federal government and organizations out there, the complaint of what's taking place right now, it's not going to intimidate us, we are going to continue pushing forward and that's what we are doing. >> the problem is, it's not just families claiming asylum, you have record amount of drugs from a firearms coming across the border into your state. >> one thing we need to address express to the iraqi people and the viewers out there, we need to shift our focus from mass migration focus on the criminal element taking place. the drug trafficking, criminal organizations on the border crisis, we talk about the drugs most important fentanyl, just here alone texas dps sees 887

pounds of fentanyl which is over 200 million lethal doses. they're not only coming in from texas, it is is affecting everyone. keep what's taking place and why the federal government needs to step in and take action for the state of texas is stepping in and we will continue to take measures in securing the border. >> i tip my hat to the men and women doing this work. you guys want doing this four or five years ago. >> we've always been involved in some aspect of border operations but this year alone is a unique year, the numbers are historic. we are more heavily involved now from deploying thousands national guard as well as constructing temporary fencing, placing shipping containers along the border especially when we see mass migration and apprehending illegal immigrants coming across and these are

illegal immigrants not seeking asylum, they are wearing camouflage closing and run away from law enforcement. this is something new and unique. >> i lost my breath a couple of times pursuing them. we can talk about that a little later, chris olivarez, thank you for being here. gillian: virginia police, an alleged serial killer, some victims were found inside trash cans in virginia. there may be more undiscovered victims. we've got details next. ♪♪ oes. always look for the grown in idaho seal.

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suspected serial killing, in police custody law enforcement about the 35-year-old man, pulling multiple women across the state. they are conducting an investigation to determine whether there are more victims. alexandria joins us with the latest. >> of the form known victims, one has not been named but i

spoke to a woman who police reached out to believing one of the body's belongs to her sister. they identified her as stephanie harrison from california and her sister came to d.c. in december but never returned home sister did not know the man now called the shopping cart killer but they did have some rooms at the same motel. listen into what the police chief had to say. >> is killed for already and we suspect he has more victims. he is a predator as all serial killers are, he prays on the week and vulnerable and he does unspeakable things with his victims. our shopping cart killer does unspeakable things with his victims. >> nickname belongs to 35-year-old anthony robinson, he was taken into custody last month charged in the death of 54-year-old redman and 39-year-old anita smith, their bodies were found near a

shopping cart in virginia. two more bodies, a 29-year-old cheyenne brown recovered wednesday. two hours away in alexandria virginia and what it area near the motel where stephanie was last seen. >> after he inflicts, to his victims and kills them, he transports their bodies to the final resting place literally in a shopping cart. >> police are trying to piece together where else robinson has been, he's lived in d.c. but prior elsewhere in new york. they are coming to missing persons file to find out if he had more victims. they do think it's likely they say he connected with months of his victims on my dating sites. she said her sister didn't use them she just may have picked the wrong motel to stay up. gillian: we will stay on top of us. christina coleman reported a few minutes ago that smash and grab that's are on the rise across u.s. cities, leaving local

officials scrambling trying to quick fix the problem rapidly getting out of ahead of them. i want to bring in the political panel, talk radio host's counsel's apartness, jonathan, former advisor west virginia senator, joe manchin, thank you both for joining us. jeff, i want to bring up the latest polling we have on this issue, 77% of americans are extremely or very concerned about crime waves. 44% are worried about crime in the old neighborhoods. at the national level, it's about outlook at the local level. >> it's one of the biggest problems we have in the country and poll numbers show americans are so upset at what joe biden is doing but it goes down to the local level, got liberal prosecutors and judges, anti-

police attitude, this whole defunding nonsense has created all of this crime across the country. police officers are retiring, resigning and look what happened in san francisco, the mayor had to walk back her policy and now she's saying she's going to be tough on crime after walgreens closed two dozen storms as crime has been going through the roof. not just robberies but murder, two so she has a new attitude toward criminals ashley, i wish that last year, all of the democrat mayors would have had a tough on crime attitude last year, we would have a lot less victims and a lot of people would be alive today. another case of a liberal prosecutor letting a killer go free and he killed three people at that christmas parade. >> unfortunately here, a lot of americans are placing the blame with democrat in particular,

presidents biden's, another fox news poll showing 36% of americans right now, 57% disapprove. what you say to back? >> i think the president is working with mayors and governors, rising crime in the country, donald trump was present last year, the worst year for crime and i don't remember a lot of people complaining about that. >> some good points, the white house is working in cities, local leaders but critics are say this is the national level problem, where is the justice department and where is the president on this issue and fomenting policies for the nation? >> the president is working with the justice department and fbi to get more cops on the street but do it in the right way. defendant police movement was spoken by some progressive but never really took off and policy

matters with real democrats, i would say new york city democratic city is selected a former police, he is tough on crime and going to be the next mayor and we should look to him to address this problem but the president is working hand-in-hand to address these problems in the mayor probably shouldn't have defunded police money last year. she directed her mistakes, they are addressing real problems with real solutions not just coming up with a border wall. gillian: let's hope that is reflected on city streets. gentlemen, we've got to leave it there. we have so much breaking news this afternoon but we appreciate it and we will have you both back. we are back to the new texas border wall and ground being broken for the first time, next. ♪♪

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i've spent months covering the immigration crisis here in southwest texas, you may hear over my microphone the next few minutes a power drill, is not a sound i've heard in the year of covering this but bill melugin has been covering it, doing amazing stuff. the crossings and for helicopter over the dell reoperation what is the latest? >> it's wild to see this coming up. we are watching history, this is the first time the united states has ever built its own waterfall. look at video here, this is unused steel left over from the federal government when building for trump while under the trump administration, hundreds of millions of dollars worth of taxpayer steel, bought and paid for already left out on federal

storage area down here in the rio grande valley, a short time ago i asked the governor if he's been in contact with federal government, if the state of texas is able to use the steel to build the border wall and he told me he reached out to the federal government but of gotten no response he plastic the biden administration say if they were responsible for the taxpayer money, they would allow to use the steel. hundreds of millions of dollars worth already bought and paid for by taxpayers in the biden administration canceled the contract without federal wall as soon as they came into office. here is a live look overhead right now, this is texas building its own border walkabout the very first panel is going up in will eventually be 1.7-mile stretch of the border wall. the idea being they will fill in the gaps where there is no federal wall, texas land paid for by texas taxpayers and one thing governor abbott talked about during his press

conference, he said the biden administration has advocated responsibility -- okay, i'm told we do have a soundbite from the governor. take a listen to what he had to say. >> if they want to be responsible stewards for taxpayer money, they should be providing the material either to texas or the contractors working with the state of texas. otherwise the biden administration has on its resume wasting billions of taxpayer dollars doing absolutely nothing. reporter: again, what's happening with this deal is nothing. nothing is happening, it's sitting out there baking in the sun going unused. if the federal government has no intention of using it. they already said they don't believe in a border wall have no plans to pursue one soleimani spent on the steel going to waste. the biden administration won't even respond to them.

>> because we have both been here, we've seen here on the days with agents and border patrol agents are tired, they been doing this for so long, it is difficult work but what is the sense you get from the agents were talking to about a walk going up? >> up until this, morale has been incredibly slow but they feel like they have been turned into glorified babysitters doing paperwork all the time my processing family unit rather than patrolling on the front lines but agents we've talked to, once the wall starts going up, morale is going up and the idea isn't that they think they need a wall from san diego all the way to brownsville, that's not the idea, it's a wall and certain areas to create chokepoint to final people to where resources are. we see what happened down here in the rio grande valley, one of

the most active part of the border, there's very little border wall so agents we've talked about, troopers love it. if the fed are going to do it, we will do it ourselves. >> quick about your great reporting this week, i've been running around, you've been on tv all week reporting but no all migrants are in the northern triangle or from haiti, a few arrests were coming in. >> two days ago here in the rio grande valley, two men traveling together, one was from syria and one from morocco. last week they've picked up more than 3500 illegal immigrants in one single weekend. syria and lebanon, we've seen people from northeast africa, they are coming in from all over the world, 120 countries and so

far. it's not just the northern triangle countries, kamala harris says she's focusing on guatemala, honduras and the root causes which is great but what about these other countries showing up? >> important reporting because we have the governor talking about sovereignty of the country, not just texas. great work. greg abbott wrapping up his news conference, here is the new texas border wall, we are talking to him coming up. stay tuned. ♪♪

we are coming to you live from rio grande city texas along the southern border where texas governor greg out it announced the start of the construction or state-funded order wall here. you will hear the drilling and hammering behind me.

historicists mama and governor abbott is here, thank you for taking your time. >> welcome to texas. you can hear and see texas is building the border wall as we speak right now. this is unprecedented for a state to step up and have to secure the sovereignty of the united states of america. this is the same fence president trump put up, we are putting it up at fast pace, mile after mile after mile to secure the united states. >> are you doing it? >> the tragedy that occurred because the biden administration is not enforcing immigration laws. we have drug cartel human traffickers, fentanyl is being brought across the border. there's a devastating tragic story about a woman not too far from where we are, she and her daughter lost their lives because a smuggler ran through a small stop sign and t-boned them and killed them. there's devastation every day because the biden administration is not doing its job to secure

our border texas is stepping up and doing the federal government's job. >> we were in mexico this week and interviewed a cartel smuggler, bold. it's clear they've never had this kind of control on our border and it's impacting you. >> used a good work, they are not dealing with president trump now, they are dealing with president biden in the cartel no they have free reign because the biden administration has open border policies. cartel makes money off every money coming across the border so the heyday for the cartel and it's disgusting joe biden doesn't realize the devastation in horror and harm causing to fellow americans. that's why texas is stepping up, somebody has to step up and do their job and push back against the biden administration and prevent the chaos the biden administration is allowing in america. >> the wall is historic but

americans are starting to understand operation lone star you began in march, the impact you had has changed the dynamic because you are starting to prosecute individuals, single males trespassing and some say it's gone from catch and release, in texas it's catch and jail. >> the wall is only part of what we are doing. we have about 10000 national guard and safety officers engaged in this fight secure our border and one thing they do, you see them every single day, arrest people coming across the border illegally and unlike the biden administration, we are not going to catch and release, we arrest them and jail them for vandalism, whatever their pride may be because it's a disaster, the penalties for crime accelerated, they could spent half a year to a year behind bars.

>> you may have a fight from the biden administration at d.o.j. and civil rights groups with lawsuits against you. what you say? >> we believe we are doing everything to the letter of the law. they can expect a fight from the state of texas, we are going to sue them to recoup the money we are spending and for not living up to enforce the law by the u.s. congress. it will be a two way fight and i think we will win. i didn't when i was attorney general when barack obama came up with his own immigration laws and i wanted all the way to the supreme court. >> talk about bill melugin asking you about the panels, apparently these panels are sitting around rotting, doesn't that seem to be counterproductive considering? they don't even meet you halfway? >> it shows the biden

administration will do all they can to waste taxpayer money the panels they are not using are already paid for and worth billions of dollars, we could be using them here but biden is letting them go to waste, it's an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars. >> back to the smuggling and cartel, we spent an entire week with lieutenant, 50 cal's are being apprehended, fentanyl and during 87 pounds this year, 33000 pounds of marijuana, have you ever seen it this bad? >> it's never been test that, there's a reason because the border has never bent this open but you mentioned guns and it brings me back, some people say americans or texans, they don't need guns. the reason you have the second

amendment right is to protect yourself. the people in the area have faced the reality that they could face any one of these cartel any day. >> you have a message for the cartel theaters? >> they've picked the wrong state. >> i spoke with a rancher, a fourth-generation rancher, she told me a minor walked up to her front door and her husband and son were working, she had to get her gun and she was worried. it seems to me they not only are welcoming, they might even want to see you prosecute the trespassers even harder for felonies, are you just getting started? the map we are prosecuting people for felonies. smugglers, people moving drugs and other crimes taking place in

one 100% we are arresting, jailing and prosecuting people for felonies. we've been doing that all along and we have to do it more increasingly because of the brazen approaches the cartel is taking. want to make it easier to apprehend anybody coming across the border, whether minor or serious crimes, you need to know they are coming into texas, they will not be caught and released by the biden administration, they will be arrested and jailed. >> i could talk to you all day long. thank you for having us here. last question, off camera agents tell me there morale is improving, what are you hearing? >> i hear that from the national guard must the workers here, they want a leader to support but they are doing and who will secure the border and who has their back.

all law enforcement officers and national guard know they have a governor who has their back. >> thank you very much, day here in texas, thank you for joining us. >> there's nothing better than christmas time. toys for tots, who can get involved now and make it happen. ♪♪

another tough year for americans especially for american kids. when the healthy handful parents struggling to put gifts under the tree. for more on how they bring america together, we are trying now by the ceo of toys for tots retired marine general jim. in a previous life, i used to work seven years for general jim jones so i know about toys for tots and have worked with you guys in the past. an incredible organization. the viewers who might not be familiar your work, tell us what you do. >> thank you for having me on the shelf. the last two years have been challenging. we had the pandemic this year had the supply chain problems

but we are marines we are taught to accomplish the mission. during the pandemic we found ways to maneuver, safely collect and distribute toys and books and we had one of our best years ever, 7.000000 children during the pandemic. this your supply chain problems we got ahead of it using historical data buying toys and books ahead of time to push those two are coordinators. thus far, we are having successful campaign season during christmas. in fact, today i was at a fish lesion site here in orlando where we are assisting about 20000 children today here in orlando. >> incredible. the supply chain issues right now, it's not too late to help kids ahead of christmas, tell viewers how they can get involved if they are not already. >> the other thing i would say,

use a lot of our toys and books we stopped up so we need to replenish and ask the general public, be generous and go to a toy collection box drop and unwrapped toy but also go to our website toys for tots.org.org and make a donation. as a virtual toybox on the website that is fun to use. >> for viewers at home, toys for tots.org, donate gifts or money market involved in a host of ways. merry christmas, thank you for joining us. appreciate it. >> thank you very much. griff: i can't let that show and without mentioning our great producer who's been out with me every night until 4:00 a.m.,

5:00 a.m. two hours later get up, took a fall pursuing migrants. it's not initiated as an honorary member of the agents out there doing great work. his mom and dad should be proud. he runs hard and he's learned to run through the brush and not trip on the cactus. it's a huge part of what we are doing down here. that's it for us, i'll send it back to you. gillian: none of us are ever too old to learn new skills. [laughter] great working with you, great interview with the governor. lewis you back in the office next week. ♪♪

advantage of concern feeling the covid crisis rapidly spreading across the u.s. with more than 40 state reporting cases of macron infections, the world health organization today saying a macron is spreading significantly faster than the delta variant with cases doubling every one and a half to three days in countries with documented community transmission. president biden issued an ominous warning to the unvaccinated in his administration illegal victory imposing vaccine